'Welfare-to-work' brings $455,000 into county

ZANESVILLE – Muskingum County's "welfare-to-work" program is one of the most effective in the state, bringing nearly a half-million dollars in state funding into the county while providing almost 250 people with a second chance at gainful employment.

The Ohio Work Incentive Program, commonly referred to as "welfare-to-work," is a collaboration between local human services and OhioMeansJobs that allows people receiving cash assistance to forgo their usual 130 hours of work programs required per month to collect welfare and connects them to a paying job.

Once their wages are enough that they can support themselves, they are removed from the cash assistance program, eliminating their cost to taxpayers while effectively rehabilitating their careers.

Since July 2013, Muskingum County Job and Family Services has had 244 people participate in the program, 69 of whom have maintained their job for at least 90 days with 21 remaining employed after 180 days. That adds up to $455,000 in funding for the county, which Executive Director Randy Cochrane said makes the area's program one of the most efficient in the state.

On several occasions, Muskingum County representatives have been called on to make presentations at statewide seminars and perform training sessions in other counties because of they high success rates.

"It's very successful," he said.

The nearly half-million dollars in funding the county has received go right back into the program, which is designed to be self-sustaining. There it is used to provide incentives — a $25 gas card when someone gets a job, a $100 gas card when they keep it for a week, etc. — and provide training such as that needed to obtain a commercial driver's license or become a licensed practical nurse.

Job and Family Services also helps to eliminate some of the obstacles people face to employment such as proper clothing and reliable transportation.

"These are individuals that oftentimes have a lot of barriers for employment," Cochrane said. "If they need steel-toed boots, we'll buy the boots if that's what they need to be employed."

In the 18 months the program has been in operation, Muskingum County Job and Family Services has spent about $31,300 on eliminating these barriers: $10,000 in incentives, $12,400 on gas, $5,500 on clothing and $4,400 on car repairs.

Spending less than 10 percent of the state funding earned on immediate costs is an amazing opportunity for the program to grow, Cochrane said. The intensity of the program, he hopes, will provide a bright light to people in the county who are unemployed and in need.

"On the surface, it sounds pretty easy, but it actually becomes pretty cumbersome with a lot of paperwork and requiring a lot of tracking," Cochrane said. "But at the end, when you're able to bring a half-million dollars into the county, it's worth the time and effort."

arumer@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6758

Twitter: @AnnaRumerZTR

Learn more

For more information about the program, call Muskingum County Job and Family Services at 740-454-0161.